First mate's log:
November 25, 1965
Even though everyone has been mad at me at some point, I am thankful that if I had to be shipwrecked, it was with such nice people. I'm thankful that we're all healthy and we have enough food, clothing, and shelter, although sometimes I miss pizza, my other clothes, and the house the Skipper and I rented in Honolulu.
And I'm thankful that the Skipper doesn't make me work on Thanksgiving.
Carol Martin's diary:
December 7, 1965
I don't know if our latest rescue attempt will work, but it's definitely the most fun so far.
The Skipper and Gilligan found a sunken ship! It was just past the lagoon. They weren't able to raise it but the Professor made a wetsuit for Gilligan, who was able to bring up crates marked South Sea Film Productions. They were before my time but Mrs. Howell says they were a studio owned by Ricardo Laughingwell and his wife Fifi LeFrance, back in the silent era.
The crates contained costumes, a movie camera, and unused film. Yes, if this scheme doesn't work out, we'll have plenty of costumes for next Halloween. We're going to make a movie about being marooned, put it on a raft, and hope it arrives someplace civilized. Yes, the odds are it'll be washed overboard or land on one of the natives' islands, but maybe somehow someone with access to a projector will find it.
Everyone, even Bobby and Cindy, who've never seen a movie, wants to be in our movie. Well, Mr. Howell is directing it and Gilligan is his cameraman, but that still means about a dozen roles to fill. The current script, which has been revised several times already, starts with the Skipper carrying each of us to shore from the lagoon. When I pointed out that the Minnow had washed ashore with all of us on it, Mr. Howell said this is more cinematic, and besides the ship is too damaged for us to recreate that. Greg suggested we add in a flashback to the storm, using a model ship in the bathtub, with the watering can for rain. If he and Marcia can get it done in time, Mr. Howell will add that in.
Peter wants to put in a model volcano, and the Professor could certainly make one, since he's done it for his science classes back home. But he assures us there are no active volcanoes on the island. (Yes, I'm skeptical about his expertise, after the sinking island scare.). Mr. Howell is torn between wanting the spectacle and wanting to finish the movie as soon as possible so we can be rescued. Peter has offered to draw a flip book of an exploding volcano, but he's only six, so I don't know how spectacular that would be.
Gilligan will dress as a native and kidnap Mary Ann. I pointed out that we've also been threatened by a white bank robber, a Japanese soldier, and a South American dictator, all of them with guns. Again I was told that this was more cinematic. I looked over at Mike, who just shook his head. He'll be filming that sequence, since Gilligan will be in front of the camera. His role onscreen will be to use the chalkboard that the Professor made for our Spanish lessons (obviously abandoned now) to show our likely location in relation to Hawaii.
There will be a scene where Ginger thanks the Professor, since he was the one who came up with the idea of shooting a movie. I don't know that that adds anything to our story but it's a scene she wants to do.
I'm going to do a scene where I watch the children play and I look worried about their future, which should be all too easy for me. Mrs. Howell is in charge of makeup, the kind that really stands out in black and white, and Alice is the wardrobe mistress.
December 10, 1965
I've been very busy the past few days, making a movie. Well, everyone on the island is working on the movie, but I'm the one who's turning the crank on the camera. The Skipper and I found some silent film equipment so we're making a movie to get us rescued. Since it's not a talkie, we have to act really big to get our message across. Like, I play a cannibal who holds Mary Ann hostage and I have to act real scary, even though I of course would never hurt her.
Today we shot a steamy love scene. It was just supposed to be Ginger thanking the Professor for coming up with the idea to make a movie and get rescued. But Mr. Howell had her kiss the Professor and it was quite a smooch. I've hardly seen any kisses like that in real movies, never mind real life. I wasn't surprised that Ginger could kiss like that, since she's kissed me. But I'm usually too scared or dazed to kiss back, and the Professor was definitely kissing back. I know because I was filming them and had to do close-ups. I asked Mr. Howell if we should give them some privacy but he told me to keep shooting.
I don't know if that scene will help us get rescued but it'll definitely keep people watching.
December 13, 1965
Well, the movie has been sent off. We had the premiere last night. We let the children stay up late as a special treat. Bobby and Cindy watched with their little blue eyes wide in amazement, squealing every time they recognized a performer, selves included. They couldn't figure out the magical screen. Peter and Jan discussed in great seriousness why the movie was in black and white, "like TV," and had no sound. (The Professor has invented a hand-cranked phonograph, so he was playing one of the Howells' records in accompaniment with the movie.) Greg and Marcia critiqued the acting.
I felt self-conscious watching my scene, but otherwise I just tried to enjoy the movie as entertainment, like the Cleopatra play last year. The most uncomfortable part was watching Ginger's thank-you to the Professor turn into a passionate kiss. Not that I'm interested in him myself. But I had no idea that this would be in the movie that I was exposing my children to! I'm sure Mike agreed. But I decided not to make an issue out of it, since it's not like Castaway Pictures will become a regular production company. We used up most of our film stock, including on shots that Gilligan exposed when he walked into the "dark room" (supply hut). Oh, and some parts were upside-down or too fast or slow.
Anyway, hopefully the picture will find the right audience, or any audience. All we can do now is wait.
